It's the day after the Europa League Final and the genie has allowed you to kidnap one member of the squad and bring them back to help for the 22/23 season.
Who is your pick?
GK 1 Mark Schwarzer
RB 6 Chris Baird
CB 18 Aaron Hughes
CB 5 Brede Hangeland
LB 3 Paul Konchesky
RM 16 Damien Duff
CM 20 Dickson Etuhu
CM 13 Danny Murphy (c)
LM 29 Simon Davies
AM 11 Zoltán Gera
CF 25 Bobby Zamora
Substitutes:
GK 19 Pascal Zuberbühler
DF 4 John Paintsil
MF 17 Bjørn Helge Riise
MF 23 Clint Dempsey
MF 27 Jonathan Greening
MF 34 Kagisho Dikgacoi
FW 10 Erik Nevland
I reckon I'd toss a coin and take either Schwarzer or Brede
Definitely a strong looking squad - hard to pick out an individual, but I suppose that was its strength, instilled by Roy, working together as a team.
But your choice of Schwarzer or Brede are good shouts for today's team, as would be Danny Murphy.
Hangeland - if any one player changed how tough a side we were to beat at the time, I think it was him.
Our greatest need would be in Murphy's or Dempsey's positions.
Dempsey followed by Murphy.
Hangeland - first choice . Murphy second
1) Hangeland
2) Dempsey
3) Murphy
Under the assumptions in the OP, Schwarzer, Hangeland and Murphy would all instantly increase our chances of survival. Of those, I believe GK is the least important position to fill. Furthermore, I believe that even though Murphy would do great in our current team, I believe it is even more important to find a stronger defensive midfielder. For CB, if we had Tosin and a prime Hangeland, I would say that we would almost certainly stay out of relegation.
Tough choice, but Hangeland edges it.
None of the others would have a huge impact on our squad I believe, possibly Dempsey. Not the strongest squad player by player but they made up a very good team. Shows you what teamwork can do, doesn't it?
Easy: Hangeland.
We have an abysmal track record when it comes to signing CBs after Hangeland left us. Tosin was probably just a stroke of luck. We have never really replaced Hangeland and it's about time we do.
My second choice would be Murphy.
Hangeland
Hughes
Dempsey
On a seperate unrelated note, I never found out why Baird started over Pantsil in the final? I didnt have a problem with it but it was a bit of a surprise as Pantsil was first choice at the time. Wasit tactical or did JP have a knock?
Quote from: S.F.Sorrow on May 26, 2022, 09:21:39 AM
Easy: Hangeland.
We have an abysmal track record when it comes to signing CBs after Hangeland left us. Tosin was probably just a stroke of luck. We have never really replaced Hangeland and it's about time we do.
My second choice would be Murphy.
Absolutely right, we now need a new center back and base on recent signings it is odds on we will make yet another mistake.
Dickson Etuhu.
Faster, stronger, scarier and a better tackler than anyone we have seen since. Actually probably the best standing tackler I have ever seen.
Hangeland and Tosin. What a patnership that would be. A la Rio and Vidic
Hangeland. If we can get another solid CB to play with Tosin this year we have a good chance
Gera....for no other reason other than to watch him celebrate scoring
1) Hangeland
2) Murphy
3) Dempsey
Murphy
Zamora
Hangaland
Hangeland 100%
Has to be Hangeland, but Murphy a close second.
Zamora was also brilliant that season, unplayable at times. He had the pace that Mitro does not have...
1) Hangeland
2) Davies
3) Baird
i was never shuch a dempsey fan and roy and me seemed to see it the same way. he preferred to play an ijured BZ in the final than dempsey, that speaks volumes.
He had one good season IMO under jol.
Brede and Swatz